Austria's Streitberger wins World Cup super-G

Georg Streitberger of Austria captured a World Cup super-G race on a day when Bode Miller skied off the course.

Streitberger finished the demanding Birds of Prey run in one minute 17.18 seconds, edging Adrien Theaux of France by 0.11 seconds. Didier Cuche of Switzerland was third.

"It was a perfect day for me," Streitberger said.

Hardly a perfect day for Miller and his American teammates.

Miller, who won silver in the super-G at the Vancouver Games, had trouble finding the right line near a technical turn midway through the run and veered straight off the course.

It was a common theme as Americans Andrew Weibrecht, Marco Sullivan and Ted Ligety also failed to make it through the difficult section of the hill.

"It's not that sweet, obviously on our home hill," Ligety said. "I think a lot of us think this is the coolest super-G hill in the World Cup and we're all really excited to have a good day, so it's definitely a bummer."

Dixon leads Canadians

Robbie Dixon of Whister, B.C., finished eighth in 1:17.71, while Manuel Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver, B.C., (1:18.60) was 19th and Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., (1:19.26) finished 29th.

"I'm feeling good (about my run). I think I took advantage of starting number one there and skied the best I could," said the 25-year-old Dixon.

"There was a couple little mistakes, but it's tough to go on this course with no real idea, so I'm pretty happy. It's a step in the right direction. Obviously I want to get on that podium, but I guess I'll have to wait until another race now."

Dustin Cook of Lac Sainte Marie, Que., (1:19.98) was 39th, Benjamin Thomsen of Invermere, B.C., (1:21.00) placed 42nd and Louis-Pierre Helie of Berthierville, Que., finished 48th place in 1:22.17.

Miller, of Franconia, N.H., was turning in a classic run, hunched over his skis and charging down the course. But when Miller reached the section known as Screech Owl, he hit a bump and couldn't recover, skidding across the course.

After his run and a quick report back up to the start gate, Miller skied down the side of the course and onto an adjacent run. His report didn't help his teammates as most made the same mistake in almost the same spot.

"Bode's report said to really move well over the terrain before it — there's kind of a roll-in — and I felt like I did that," Weibrecht said. "Somewhere in between I maybe didn't get enough depth into the turn where I could bring it back at the right angle."

Weibrecht was far from alone. Sullivan and Ligety, who also were starting in the top 30, failed to negotiate the same section. American Chris Frank, the 55th skier in the 69-racer field, also did not finish near that spot.

"If you want to be fast in super-G, you have to be in the fine line of making it or not," Ligety said. "We were on the wrong side of that line."

Streitberger certainly found the right track to ride all the way to his second career World Cup win.

His secret?

"Sometimes you have to ski with the brain and put on the brakes," Streitberger said. "The reason is because it's so difficult here."

The day ended the reign of Swiss skier Carlo Janka at Beaver Creek. He swept all three events last season, but finished 23rd Saturday.

"A lot of mistakes today. Not a good run for me," Janka said. "I can't expect that every year will work like last year."

The race will conclude Sunday with a giant slalom. A downhill race scheduled for Friday was cancelled because of high wind. There's no makeup date or venue yet for that race.